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Manighar; Metal Bender; Western Symbol; Polish Knight; Smokin' Joey

* FRENCH-bred staying star Manighar won the battle of the European stayers in the $2.25 million BMW at Rosehill on Saturday.

In yet another Group One result dominated by overseas-bred stayers, the Peter Moody-trained import recorded his third G1 in the last four weeks when he beat the former French-trained star Americain.

Manighar had previously won the G1 Australian Cup at Flemington and G1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill.

The grey is one of 13 G1 winners by former French champion sire Linamix and was being carried by his dam Mintly Fresh when she part of the Aga Khan's purchase of breeder Jean Luc Lagardare's breeding stock in 2005.

Mintly Fresh, by Rubiano, also produced Minatlya, a G3 winner in France and has a three-year-old filly by Manduro and a two-year-old colt by Dalakhani.

Manighar has now won six races including the G2 Prix Chaudenay when trained in France by Alain de Royer Dupre for the Aga Khan before his sale to Australian interests.

He was third in the Yorkshire Cup and fifth in the Melbourne Cup last year for Luca Cumani before joining the Moody stable.

Royer Dupre was also the trainer in France of Americain (Dynaformer) and brought him to Australia to win the Melbourne Cup and Geelong Cup in 2010 and Moonee Valley Cup and Sandown Classic in 2011 before he was left here to be trained by David Hayes.

* The late Danasinga's remarkable Group One performer Metal Bender almost brought his trainer Chris Waller to tears at Rosehill on Saturday when he took his earnings to $1.9million with a heart stopping fourth Group One win in the George Ryder Stakes.

Metal Bender recorded a hard fought win over Rekindled Interest and Secret Admirer at just his second start after recovering from setbacks that threatened his career.

“It's just an amazing performance, it's a big effort for a horse who has been off for such a long time,” an emotional Waller said after the win.

Metal Bender (Danasinga x Jacqwin) was purchased for $160,000 at the 2007 Inglis Easter sale by the late Jack Denham for stable client David Fuller.

The son of Danasinga won the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas as three-year-old under Denham's care before Waller prepared him win the Doomben Cup in 2010.

He then suffered a spate of setbacks and career threatening injuries. He incurred a mandatory three-month ban after bleeding in the Mackinnon Stakes in the spring of 2010 then had to have a year on the sidelines to recover from a bowed tendon.

Leading New Zealand nursery Waikato Stud bred Metal Bender and sold him from their Easter Sale draft in 2007. Waikato Stud will offer six yearlings at this week's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

* PROMISING High Chaparral gelding Western Symbol recorded his first Black Type success in the G3 HKJC Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

The five year-old gelding prepared by Gai Waterhouse was stakes-placed in the Bendigo Cup last spring.

Having his second run back from a spell, Western Symbol has now recorded five wins and six placings from 13 starts.

He is the first stakes-winner from the Bluebird mare Blue Symbol, whose dam is a half-sister to GI WA Derby winner Starjo.

Western Symbol is the 34th stakes-winner for English Derby winner High Chaparral, who has 19 entries for the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

* CHAMPION sire Encosta de Lago recorded a two state stakes double on Saturday at Rosehill and Caulfield.

His up and coming stayer Polish Knight (Encosta de Lago x Polish Princess, by Polish Precedent) won the G2 Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill while seasoned four-year-old Smokin' Joey (Encosta de Lago x Dalzing, by Blazing Sword) took out the G3 Victoria Handicap at Caulfield.

The three year-old gelding Polish Knight was a $420,000 purchase from the Windsor Park Stud draft at the 2010 NZB Premier Yearling Sale and has now won twice and run second from just five starts.

He is the first stakes-winner for Polish Princess, an imported daughter of Polish Precedent who won four races in New Zealand including a Listed race and was also third in the GI Champions Mile.

Polish Princess is a half-sister to the dam of GI winner Lyric Of Light and traces to celebrated producer Reprocolor, whose many GI winning descendants include Opera House and Kayf Tara.

Polish Knight is the 89th stakes-winner for Encosta de Lago.

Smokin' Joey, retained to race by his breeders, is trained by Anthony Freedman and has won four races and run second four times from 19 starts earning just $315,663 in prizemoney.

He is a brother to multiple G2 winner Our Smokin Joe, who won 10 races and more than $1.6 million in prizemoney with multiple placings at GI level for the Freedman stable.

He is one of five winners from the Blazing Sword mare Dalzing. She was retired from stud duty on 2009 with Smokin' Joey her final foal.

Encosta de Lago has had nine individual Australian stakes-winners this season and has over 40 entries for the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.